The Real Thing

Jesus performed a superior work in a superior sanctuary, and He mediates or presides over a superior Covenant (Hebrews 8:6-7). The Greek word for covenant in this passage is “diatheke,” which means only one thing—a will. Jesus Christ is the mediator, not of an agreement between God and men, but a will.

In a contract, both parties have input as to the terms of the arrangement. But in a will, only the person making the will decides the terms of the agreement. The beneficiaries can only decide to accept or reject what is provided for them in the will, but they cannot dictate the terms of the will.

Since we have offended God through sin, He alone is the one who can dictate the terms by which we can be reconciled to Him. With the coming of Christ came a new covenant (Luke 22:20). The coming of a new kind of priest signaled that God was making a new covenant with man.

In Hebrews 8:7-8, the author mentions four superior promises found in the New Covenant.

1. Promises Unconditional Blessing (Hebrews 8:8-9)

Under the old Covenant God’s acceptance was dependent upon their obedience to the law. It was a conditional acceptance. I remember in the first church that I pastored a woman was talking with Amy and said, “Oh, we just love your husband, so far that is.” Her acceptance was very conditional.

But not under the new arrangement. Our acceptance before God is based totally on the forgiveness He offers through Christ. When we are faithless, He remains faithful.

2. Promises Inward Motivation (Hebrews 8:10)

How did the Jews know God’s laws? They were written on stone tablets, the people would write them on their wrists, or in Jesus day in the phylacteries - these tiny leather boxes containing Scripture passages that would hang from the forehead of an ultra-spiritual Jew.

The law was external and the motivation to obey was fear and ritual. But under the new arrangement, God places His Holy Spirit within your heart giving you the ability to discern good from evil and giving you the desire and power to change.

Romans 6 says that the same power that raised Christ from the dead is working in your life right now, giving you the ability to say no to sin and make a lasting change.

3. Promises Universal Redemption (Hebrews 8:11)

I’m not saying that everyone will be saved, but everyone has the opportunity to be saved. The old covenant was for the Jews, the sacrifices limited to the Jews. And even among the Jews, only the Pharisees kept the law. The majority of the people did not observe the ceremonial law. They were referred to the people of the land. Thus, the old arrangement was very narrow.

But beginning in Genesis 12:3, God prophesied that there would be a new agreement through which all the people of the earth would be blessed. Ultimately this will be fulfilled in the Millennium when everyone who enters that time will be saved.

4. Promises Unlimited Forgiveness (Hebrews 8:12)

The old arrangement could only cover over sin, but never remove sin. It would take something much more powerful than animal blood to totally remove the stain of my sin. It would take the blood of Jesus Christ.

The new covenant, written in the blood of Christ, doesn’t offer temporary absolution but permanent forgiveness.

Psalm 103:12 says, “as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Micah 7:19 says, “He casts our sins into the depths of the sea.” And Jeremiah says, “He remembers our sin no more.”

Imagine a comet for a moment. These incredibly swift heavenly bodies shoot across and through our solar system from time to time. They are magnificent to behold. Astronomers tell us that the vapor trails of a comet can be more than 10,000 miles long. But science tells us that if one were to capture and bottle a comet’s vapor trail, the amount of vapor actually present in the bottle would take up less than 1 cubic inch of space.

God can do something much greater than that! He can take all your sins—every wrong action and every wrong thought—and fit them in an area the size of the cross of Jesus Christ. And once they make contact with the blood on that cross they evaporate forever.

No wonder the writer of Hebrews encourages us to place our faith in Jesus Christ—the Superior Priest, with a superior ministry, who presides over a superior covenant—a covenant with superior promises.

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Welcome to First Baptist Dallas! Our mission is to transform the world with God's Word...one life at a time. We are a church with a legacy that is built on the Bible, and we continue that legacy today. With multiple service times and options, as well as age group Sunday School classes, we have something for everyone. Join us on Sundays in person or online beginning at 9:15am.